Isac Lundestrom Scouting Report: 2018 NHL Draft #18

BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 28: Isac Lundestrom #20 of Sweden skates up ice with the puck in the third period against Czech Republic during the IIHF World Junior Championship at KeyBank Center on December 28, 2017 in Buffalo, New York. Sweden beat Czech Republic 3-1. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)

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Isac Lundestrom has played for Sweden in both the 2017 and 2016 Under-18 World Hockey Championships, scoring five points in seven games last year. As an underage player, he was a depth forward on the 2016 Bronze Medal winning squad. That season he played a bigger role for the Under-17 team, who won silver that year. He played 45 games with Lulea in the SHL last season, but only had six points. This year he is doing a lot more with six goals and 15 points in 42 games in Sweden’s top league. The numbers may not be great, but minutes have been tough to come by for the 18-year-old. With Lulea eliminated in the playoffs, he’s playing for the J20 team in their playoffs and has five points in six games.

Lundestrom also played at the World Juniors scoring two goals in seven games for the Silver Medal winning Swedish squad. His older brother Eric plays pro hockey as well but in the second division.

Isac Lundestrom Scouting Report

Skating

Isac Lundestrom is a strong skater, with decent speed and acceleration. While he’s not amongst the fastest skaters in the draft, he is well above average. Lundestrom has a long and powerful stride. He can fight through checks and get to the front of the net, or keep the play going in the cycle. His balance is very good, and he is tough to knock off the puck. Lundestrom has good agility and edgework. He is a challenge to defend when on the rush and can weave in and out of traffic.

Offensive Game

Lundestrom has high-end hockey IQ and always seems to make the right play. While he is not outstanding in any one area, his skills are good in almost all areas. Lundestrom has good vision and passing skills. He also has the soft hands, and the agility to beat defenders in one-on-one situations, as well as to make a quick move to open up a passing or shooting lane. Lundestrom is also willing to play a gritty game, battling hard on the forecheck, forcing turnovers and creating scoring chances.

Lundestrom can also play the role of finisher. He has an accurate wrist shot with a quick release. His snapshot is also powerful, and also has a good release. Lundestrom is a pass first player though. He could stand to use his shot more often, in order to keep defenders guessing. Lundestrom is willing to take the puck to the net and creates scoring chances in tight.

Defensive Game

Lundestrom is a strong player in all three zones. He also battles hard on the backcheck. He supports the defence down low and uses his body to control his man down low. Lundestrom could stand to get stronger, but this should come with time. His smarts and positioning are strong. He uses his strong hockey IQ to anticipate plays and create turnovers. Lundestrom cuts down passing lanes with an active stick. Once a turnover is created, Lundestrom is able to quickly transition to offence. Lundestrom has also been used to kill penalties at the junior level, but obviously does not see a lot of that type of responsibility at the SHL level.

Projection and Comparison

Lundestrom could be a solid two-way forward at the NHL level, capable of playing in all situations and putting up points. While it’s not clear that he has the potential to be a franchise centre, he can be a solid top-six player. Lundestrom needs to work on improving his strength, being better in front of the net without the puck, and shooting more. His defensive game will also grow with more minutes and good coaching. Expect him to spend another year or two in Sweden before coming to the NHL. Lundestrom’s game is reminiscent of Mikko Koivu of the Minnesota Wild, but this is a style comparison only and not one based on talent.

Highlights

The following is a compilation of some of the many highlight packages of Lundestrom that are available on youtube.

BUFFALO, NY – DECEMBER 28: Isac Lundstrom #20 of Sweden skates up ice with the puck in the third period against the Czech Republic during the IIHF World Junior Championship at KeyBank Center on December 28, 2017, in Buffalo, New York. Sweden beat Czech Republic 3-1. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)